A former vice president of Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. on Tuesday denied any responsibility in the 2011 Fukushima nuclear crisis, saying he did not procrastinate on taking measures against tsunami, which flooded the nuclear power plant during the crisis and caused fuel meltdowns in three of its reactor units.
In a hearing at the Tokyo District Court, Sakae Muto, 68, said he still believes re-examining a 2008 estimate made by Tepco, the operator of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, on the risk of high waves was "an appropriate procedure," citing what he believed was the low credibility of the original data used for the projection.
"I had no intention to buy time and I'm offended by the claim that I put off taking measures," said Muto, who is charged with professional negligence resulting in deaths and injuries in connection with one of the world's worst nuclear crises.